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1945 AUGUST 6 Japan: The U.S. drops
ns
a 13 kiloton atomic bomb on Hiroshima
enyuctah
wjeteng
city, killing approximately 100,000
people.
Three days later a second
and political leaders begin planning
nuclear experiments for further develTwo tests,
opment of nuclear weapons.
code named Operation CROSSROADS, are |
planned to demonstrate the effects of
A
atomic explosions on naval vessels.
search is begun for an appropriate
testing site.
1946
,
amomses
dae &.
a
|
nace cis ~
decides that Enewetak Atoll will be
used for a second series of nuclear experiments.
1948 APRIL Enewetak: Operation SANDSTONE begins and includes three atomic
blasts ranging in strength from 18
49 kilotons, detonated from towers: X-
Rav (April 15), Yoke (May 1) and Zebra
(May 15).
~~ fae
1951 APRIL Enewetak: Operation
GREENHOUSE begins.
This series in-
‘
ciudes four atomic tests exploded on
towers: Dog (April 8), Easy (April 21),
George (May 9) and Item (May 25). Zasy
test is 4? kilotons: information en the
others remains classified.
Approximately 3,200 military men participate
in this series.
atomic torr sroppec on Nagasakl, Japan.
Abouc 42,0°0 military men and scien-
1947
van?
cote
1947 DECEMBER Enewetak: The Navy
zins and ircludes two atomic domo
plasts, Abl2 iJulv 1), an air drop, and
Zaker (Juiv 25), an underwater test.
These tombs ire about the size of the
test
“Soyens as
n'a.
am.
JULY Bikini: 2peratrion CROSSROADS bde-
this
|
oo
JANUARY Washington: “Navy offi-
in
-_—~
‘eo
cunjpeleia
i> \ ae
wade
cials in Washington, D.C. announce that
Bikini Atoll in the Marshall Islands
fulfills all climatic, zeograpnical and
other requirements for Operation CROSSROADS (4,500 miles away from the U.S
a small posuiation of 167; 3a orotected
anchorage; and under the control of the
L.S.)
cists participate
unt i
Nam
—_
NOVEMBER Washington: American military
Fe
aamto, reagerk
anam
wathe
ea
1
atomic bomb is dropped on Nagasaki city,
killing approximately 70,000 people.
o
series.
JULY The Marshall Islands, along with the Caroline and Mariana Islands,
formerly wider a League of Nations Mandate to the Japanese, become the United
Cbl100¢
Nations Trust Territory cf the Pacific, administered by the United States.
1952 NOVEMBER Enewetak: Operaztion
“Ships remained in the lagoon
during cetonation and fallout periods ard were subjected to conSiderabie fallout (during Operation Greenhouse),”
Studies of Participants in Nu~
clear Tests, National Academy
of Sciences, September 1980.
IVY begins.
[It includes the first
thermonuclear (hydrogen) device test,
Mike (November 1), estimated at 10.4
megatons (750 times greater than tne
Hiroshima bomb). King (November :6) is
described as a "high yield" 500 kiloton
(continued on page 6)
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